St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-06-14


johnson proposed that committee
composed OF union and nOI-union men
be appointed tomeet the contractors and
sttemp ito arrange the differences, and
that the proposition was almost hoOted
down. We will state that such
committee would have been
received with the utmost courtesy. and
That all trouble would have undoubtedly
been avoided. That the objects of the
board OF trade may be fully understood
we copy the following from the articles
its business shall be for the purpose of
advancing the commercial, mercantile
and manufacturing interests OF said city
or ST. Panl; for intoxicating Just and
equitable principles of trade; for eStab-
llShlng, maintaining and enforcing uni
IoTmlty III the commercial uSageS 0i said
city, particularly in such branches Of
commerce, trade, manufacturing and
other industries as. contribute and enter
into the construction of buildings and
other structures; for acquiring, possess
ing and disseminating useful business
information; and for adjusting the con-
troverSieS and misunderstanding which
may arise between merchants, contract
ors, manufacturers and others engaged
in trade, contracting, building, or fur
niShing supplies for buildings and other
structures, and thereby promoting the
general prosperity of said city"
If the above is not patriotic and fair
enough, perhaps somebody will suggest
an amendment Uncertainty provides for
CONSULTATION OF ARBITRATION,
excluding none. Had the carpenters
gone to their employers direct and
stated their case, asking for an increase
of wages, they would have received the
advance If it was merited and they
know themselves, although they DO not
parade the fact, that many employers
advanced wages without solicitation
last spring.
1t is but natural that the employer
should be the workman's best friend,
and seek to make him as comfortable
and contented as possible.
We ask you in spirit of fairness to
print the following resolutions which
promulgate the principles, not only of
the National association, but of all the
kindred organizations in the country,
feeling that the community have "a right
to understand just how the employers
stand and judge whether anything un
reasonable is claimed:
FlrSt-ThiS association affirms TIT alb
solute personal Independence OF the indiv-
1dual to work or not to work, or employ. or
not to employ, Is a fundamental p. ciple
which should never be questioned or
sailed: that upon it depends the security of
our whole social fabric and business pros
perity. and that employers and wofkmen
should be equally interested in its defense
and preservation.
Second-While upholding this principle as
an essential safeguard for all concerned, this
association would appeal to employers in
the building trades to recognize that there
are many opportunities for good in aSsocia-
tons of wofkmen; and while condemning
and opposing improper action upon their
part, they should aid and assist them in all
just and honorable purposes; that while
upon fundamental principles it would be
useless to confer or arbitrate, there are still
many points upon which conferences and
arbitratiOnS are perfectly right and proper,
and that upon such points it is q manifest
duty to take advantage of the opportunities
afforded by associations to confer together,
to the end that Strikes loc&-outs, and other
disturbances may be prevented.
When such conferences are entered into
care should be taken to state clearly in ad-
vance that this fundamental principle must
be maintained, and that such conferences
should only be competent 70 report results in
the form Of resolutions OF Recommendation to
the individuals composing the various organ
iZationS participating, avoiding all forms of
dictatoTial authority.
Third-ThiS association earnestly recon-
mends all its affiliated associations to secure,
as soon as possible, the adoption of a system
of payment by the hour for all labor per-
formed other than ''piece work" or salary
WON, anu 10 ODtstlil Tie cO-OpSfdtlOn OIL as |
sociations of workmen in this just and equi-
table arrangement.
Is there anything unfair, unjust Or
unconstitutional in the above? Does it |
not embOdy the very essence Of the con- |
situation OF the great republic of which |
we are all so proud? VIII the trades |
union be as fair and give to the public |
their platform and rules?
Again, the disatfected workmen, in an
APPEAL TO THE PUBLIC,
complain that the contractors have |
committees to interfere with the peace |
fully inclined woTkmen. and visit them |
during the hours OF labor with the pur- |
pose Of inducing them to give up their |
means of earning a. living for them |
selves and their loved ones, often using |
unlawful threats. Surely such pro-
ceedings are an interference with per
sonal liberty of thought and action, as
well as a larceny of time, which is
money, from the employers. We deny
that force has been used by any con-
tractor, although in many cases it would
have been etirely justifiable.
Once more, the malcontents patheti-
cally demand that they shall ''have more
time for the home circle, more time for
Self-improvement." What more time
for home and mental culture can the
gentlemen want than that which they
are forced to take during the long sea-
son when it is impossible to- work?
Every workman should work as many
hours as possible when he can, in justice
to the ''hOme circle.' Then he can OBJ
tain the means for ''Self-improvement,'
and can raise the standard of the
stopping work at o'clock as
men have done this season
at North and South ST. Paul, and loaf
ing for more than an hour waiting for
train, wasting the precious time for
which they could have received from 81
to 80 per week? They could not COM
plain of being tired, in this healthful
climate. and nearly four hours of day
light was left to them, while the sums
they would have earned, from 50 to SIS
per month, would have helped to buy
them home, or would
HAVE PAID THEIR RENT,
or would have supplied them with the
means of self-improvement.
If these questions Of hours of labor
and of striking could he left to the
women, how soon it would be settled!
The contractor cannot stop to ask q
man whether he belongs to 1.-The uniOn''
Or not, and all he wants is good helpers
in the work he has undertaken. But in
what a pfedicalnent he finds himself in
when, as one stated, he is working
twelve men; ten desire to work ten
hours and two want only nine hours.
Whom shall he give way TOP Shall he
discharge the ten or the two? But the
two are union men and under orders,
and if he does not accede- to their de-
mands they will not work themselves
nor allow others to work. The. union
men cannot work extra time for their
employers, but they can put up fence
for themselves or build a house for
neighbor even if they have to encroach
upon the hours of darkness and sacri-